two decades

I spent the last few days hanging out with my aunt in Alameda, which was such a great time. We ate some delicious food, went shopping at TJ Maxx and Target, watched TV and chilled out. Unfortunately I was having such a good time just hanging out that I took zero pictures!

On the way from Alameda to Sacramento, I stopped at The Nut Tree. When I was a very little girl we used to come to The Nut Tree. I'd rock on the rocking horses, eat these enormous frosted sugar cookies that were frosted with elaborate decoration, and ride the little Nut Tree Railroad through orange orchards. Now... all that's left of The Nut Tree is this tiny area that has the railroad, some rocking horses, and a carousel. Everything else is gone and it's become a huge shopping center. It broke my heart. The Nut Tree was one of my favorite places as a kid. The simple pleasures of The Nut Tree are pretty much gone. I hate that something almost ... sacred has been turned into this huge retail center. I remember riding the tiny train through orange trees, reaching out and trying to grab the oranges off the nearby branches. It was definitely one of the most iconic places of my early childhood.

I watched these two families get on the carousel, both of them had little girls who were around two or three. I just imagined that those little girls were like me 20 years ago. 20 years. In 20 years those little girls could be just like me. Returning to a magical place from their childhood, watching little girls 20 years younger than them ride the carousel. I'm sure somewhere back home there are pictures of tiny me at the nut tree. It's mind blowing to think that it was 20 years ago that I was that little girl. I've been thinking a lot lately about how bizarre it is to become an adult from being a little kid. You don't realize that the process is happening while it's happening. Then all of a sudden you're 23 years old standing in front of a carousel watching little girls clutching onto the prancing horses wondering how it all happened.

Last night I met up for coffee with Liz from SrslyLiz, which was really fun! She's the first blog friend I've been able to meet up with. I tried to meet up with a few other people but I just didn't end up being able to connect with them, so it was nice to finally be able to have a coffee date with a blog pal!

So, a long time ago, as in before I left on the trip, I said I was going to do another tour of the Brave with all my stuff packed in and everything up and running, and I finally got off my butt and did it! So here is a short little video of me showing you guys around my humble mobile abode!